Is Your Business Worth 20 Minutes of Your Time?
The AFAANJ Board of Directors Thinks So!!
If you do work in any school, municipality, county or state building in New Jersey. THIS WILL AFFECT YOU. This is a long update but please take the time to read this.
This is important!
A-3666 / S-3071 was pushed through the NJ State Assembly and Senate in December, right before the holiday season. This law will require participation in a U.S. D.O.L.-registered apprenticeship program as a prerequisite for any company registering as a public works contractor in New Jersey. This will not only affect our industry but all companies that engage in public work, whether it be in a school system, municipality or state facility.
The AFAANJ has worked closely with the NJESA, NJAFED and other industry trade groups to meet with the governor’s office and the Department of Labor and Workforce Development to voice our concerns about this damaging new law, but no changes have been made to the existing law. As a result, we have created our own legislation (A-5468) that exempts life safety companies from the new law.
We need your help. We are asking you to do two things:
- Oppose A-3666. While the law has passed, the rules are still within the comment period. We are asking you to write an opposition letter and attend a public hearing on July 2.
- Support A-5468. Rally support for our new legislation by writing a letter of support and meeting with your local representatives.
Opposition Letter and Meeting
On July 2, 2019, the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development will be holding a public hearing on the proposed new rules/regulations for Public Works Contractor registration regarding the law that was passed earlier this year. As you can see, it will be held two days before the July 4th Independence Day holiday. The timing of this hearing seems suspicious and would appear to indicate that the organizers would like to see light opposition to these consequential new rules / regulations. Therefore, for anyone who performs public work, or would like to start performing public work, a written opposition letter and attendance at this hearing is vital. These new rules/regulations, which flow from the A-3666 law will create a very tough and costly business environment for small (non-union) businesses that perform public work in New Jersey.
This will be your only chance to publicly oppose these new rules / regulations.
We urge everyone to attend this meeting. All business owners/employees should attend, regardless of whether you perform Public Works work in New Jersey.
· We ask that you draft a letter using the talking points attached, but customize it with your own points.
· Please submit your letter(s) by mail and email before July 2, 2019 and email a copy of your letter(s) to AFAANJ at jimLoft@Verizon.net
· Please let us know if anyone from your company will be attending the NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development hearing by emailing james.loftus@siemens.com . Also, please let us know whether you plan on speaking at the meeting.
The public hearing on the proposed new rules / regulations will be held on the following date, at the following location:
Tuesday, July 2, 2019
10:00 A.M. to 12:00pm
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
John Fitch Plaza
13th Floor Auditorium
Trenton, New Jersey
Please call the Office of Legal and Regulatory Services at (609) 777-2960 if you wish to be included on the list of speakers.
Please submit your letter(s) BEFORE the public hearing on July 2, 2019. Please address your letters to:
Mr. David Fish, Executive Director
Legal and Regulatory Services
NJ Department of Labor and Workforce Development
P.O. Box 110 – 13th Floor
Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0110
Or send electronically to: david.fish@dol.nj.gov
Reach out to your local representatives
We are asking you to reach out to members of the Assembly Labor Committee and to your local legislators (contact information can be found below) to rally support this new legislation (A-5468) and ask them for their support.
- Ask your local legislator for a face to face meeting to discuss our talking points listed below.
- Reach out to the Assembly Labor Committee and ask that they hold a hearing on A-5468.
- Write letters in support using these talking points (Life & Property at Risk / Industry is Already Licensed / New Law Hurts Small Business) as a base and adding some of your own.
Members of the Assembly Labor Committee:
· Chair: Assemblyman Joseph V. Egan (D17) / 100 Bayard Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 / 732-249-4550
· Vice Chair: Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D37) / 1 Engle Street, Suite 108, Englewood, NJ 07631 / 201-541-1118
· Assemblyman Robert Auth (R39) / 1069 Ringwood Avenue, Suite 312, Haskell, NJ 07420 / 862-248-0491
· Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling (D11) / 802 West Park Avenue, Suite 221, Ocean Twp., NJ 07712 / 732-695-3371
· Assemblyman Paul D. Moriarty (D4) / 129 Johnson Road, Suite 1, Turnersville, NJ 08012 / 856-232-6700
· Assemblyman Parker Space (R24) / One Wilson Drive, Suite 2B, Sparta, NJ 07871 / 973-300-0200
· Assemblywoman Shavonda E. Sumter (D35) / 191 Market Street, Paterson, NJ 07505 / 973-925-7063
· Assemblyman Anthony S. Verrelli (D15) / 144 West State Street, Trenton, NJ 08608 / 609-571-9638
· Assemblyman Harold J. Wirths (R24) / One Wilson Drive, Suite 2B, Sparta, NJ 07871 / 973-300-0200
Find your legislator: https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/njmap210.html
Important Links:
A-3666: http://www.njafed.com/files/documents/12.pdf
Rules for A-3666: http://www.njafed.com/files/documents/14.pdf
A-5468: http://www.njafed.com/files/documents/13.pdf C
lick Here for
Click below for Form Lett er s to use
Opposition Letter for A-3666
Support A-5468
Take Action Today to help your Industry!
